Saturday, November 30, 2019

Right from Wrong – Part 2

Our Land of Flowers is beautiful.  We like to keep it that way.  It is when people come to our land that it becomes polluted.

Continuing Michael’s message  on “Right and Wrong”, he tells us that the fourth objective to keep ourselves humble  is in Romans 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

The fourth objective is to never be wise in our own conceited selfish wisdom. According to 1 Corinthians 2, God has chosen the foolish thing of his spirit to confound the wisdom of this world. Worldly wisdom that we inherited from Adam is contrary to God's wisdom. According to the book of James, the wisdom of this world is earthly, sensual and devilish. However the wisdom that is from above (from Heaven) is first peaceable, easy to be entreated, without partiality and without hypocrisy. The only wise God has prepared a day to reveal His glory at Christ's return .... for at Christ's return, we shall know Him even also as we are known by Him.

The next key to objectivity is to treat people with dignity even if they don't treat us with dignity.  According to Romans 12:1,Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”  According to CS Lewis' sermon on "The Weight of Glory," passivism is immoral according to scripture. Men and women of God should not stand idly by while the devil rapes, pillages and plunders God's people. Romans 12:17 says to never respond to evil with evil in retaliationInstead, do that which is honorable in the sight of all. The example is Jesus' response to our sin and iniquity ... in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly

The fifth principle is in Romans 12:18, to take the initiative to form peace wherever possible. “If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.” President  Abraham Lincoln said, "The best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend." However, there is no reconciliation unless we meet each other at the foot of the cross. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. To initiate a peace offering is to offer them the Prince of Peace ... salvation through Christ's perfect payment for sin on our behalf.

According to Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”  Vengeance is God's domain. If we seek vengeance, we are usurping God's prerogative, His authority and putting ourselves in God's place. Only God can mete out , dispense or allot justice of righteous vengeance. For our part, God's grace and mercy triumphs over judgment. Therefore, what shall we do?  According to Romans 12:20-21, “Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

A Pastor was asked to conduct the funeral service for a man who was in prison as a multiple murderer and passed away. They couldn't find another preacher to preach at his funeral.  This pastor said, "I'll do it but the only thing I can do is share the gospel."  At the funeral, a little old lady spoke first. She walked to the front of the casket and shared her testimony. She said that this convicted murderer had beat her daughter so severely that everyone thought that she was dead.  However after many days in the hospital and several reconstructive surgeries, she finally recovered. The little old lady testified that God called her to visit this man who attempted to kill her daughter. After many years of visiting him, he said humbly, "tell me again about that gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ." That's when he finally accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. After coming to Christ he confessed to several other previously unsolved multiple murders. This brought closure to many of the families who were grieving the loss of their loved ones. He never once asked for parole or to be released from prison. This little old lady's testimony was the most powerful message that Pastor had ever heard. Her testimony exemplified the gospel message of forgiveness of sin and loving your enemy by offering him God's gracious gift of salvation. He paid for his crimes against society, yet Jesus paid for His sins against God.

Questions:  Scenario one:  A coworker blames you for one of their own mistakes. Then your boss calls you to confront you about the mistake. What should you do? Do nothing and see how it turns out?  Or should you call a meeting with your boss and your accuser and give your side of the story, then tell them that you forgive your coworker and offer to help him correct his character flaw?

Scenario Two: You find out your spouse is having an affair:  Do you go cheat on them in return?  Or do you work on forgiving your spouse and helping your spouse reconcile?

Scenario Three:  A "friend" angrily attacks you on social media with the intent of character assassination. Do you post dirt on them in return or send them a private message and offer to talk to them in person, letting them know that you're aware of their anger with you and find out why and how we can reconcile?


Be careful when you seek so-called "righteous retribution" from a heart of "righteous indignation."  They don't care what you say, rather they care that you model the message of Christ in you the hope of glory. The effort of Christ is not vengeance but reconciliation according to God's righteous mercy and grace through the love with which he has loved us.  For Jesus Christ came not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.


May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Friday, November 29, 2019

Right and Wrong - Part 1

River & Mountains Diamond Art Kit

Michael writes of the Gospel's clarity on “What Christians are supposed to do”; defining the moral high ground. He points out that the Old Testament emphasizes the Law of God's righteous judgment and the consequences for sin. However, the gospels teach that for Christians who confess that Jesus is Lord, Christ is the end of the law. Since Jesus has covered our sins, how then shall we understand what's right and what's wrong?  A related question is, "How do we respond to and treat people who consider us their enemy?"

The answer to these questions is found in Romans chapter 12. When Paul wrote this epistle to the believers in Rome, he was writing about people in their own communities and in their own families. In Romans 5:9-11 Paul said, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

Even though we who were called of God, pushed God away, Jesus paid the price for our sins and reconciled us in spite of ourselves. Christ paid for sin on our behalf with his innocent blood in exchange for our guilty blood. For he who was without sin became the perfect payment for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. Therefore because of Jesus' intercession on our behalf, we have been “born again” of God's spirit, Christ in us the hope of glory and  are now sons and daughters of God. As children of God, the gospel says to work for the salvation of those who treat us like an enemy. 

Romans 12:14, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

Before his conversion, Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) persecuted Christians. He even oversaw the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. While he was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians, he had a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. Even though Saul was an enemy of the faith, Jesus had a different plan for his life. Stephen's martyrdom was a powerful witness of his Lord Jesus Christ. He said while his executioners were stoning him to death, "lay not this sin to their charge." He understood Jesus' command: “Bless them that persecute you and despitefully use you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake....for great is your reward in heaven”. The witness of Stephen's execution showed Saul that the way to bless your enemy is to work for their salvation.

The proper response to an enemy is in Romans 12:15-16. This means that those who perceive us as an enemy have to objectively observe our righteous heart and actions as a follower of Christ. They need to see how we exemplify the gospel of salvation. Our first objective is to give a proper testimony to those who perceive us as their enemy. The first thing they need to see is empathy according to verse 15:  “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Jesus' example was that we take up our yoke because He is our true yoke fellow.  Because of His labor of love and His sacrifice on our behalf, He pulls the majority of the load. We couldn't do it on our own. In that while we were yet sinners, and enemies of God, Christ died for the ungodly.

The second objective is to live in harmony with those who disagree with us. Harmony goes way beyond unison. God created us harmoniously fitted together within the body of Christ. Even though we each sing a different part, harmony reinforces and glorifies God. When we sing His praises in harmony, the sum of our blended voices is much more glorious than when everyone simply sings in unison. Harmony builds on our common nature:  the nature of God in Christ in us the hope of glory. The object is to set aside our differences and focus on our common purpose and our common nature, while we each glorify God according our own individual calling.

The Third objective is to keep ourselves humble. Haughtiness and pride are contrary to the nature of Christ in us. This is the theme of Philippians chapter 2. Jesus humbled Himself as a man and became a servant to serve God's people from a heart of love. To exemplify and testify objectively that He was the object of God's gospel message; that He himself was the meaning of truth incarnate. 

Let's continue Michael's message on "Right and Wrong" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Thursday, November 28, 2019

A Spiritual Battle – Part 2


Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon                                                                                                                                                                                 More

Continuing Michael's message, he writes that there is a record in the Old Testament of a behind the scenes look at the spiritual battle.  This record is in  2 Kings 6:8-17, Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The Syrian king thought that there was a spy within his camp who was telling the king's war plans to Israel their enemy. One of the king's men advised him that the prophet named Elisha was telling Israel the king's battle plan even down to the details he discussed in his bed chamber. The king sent his great army to intercept the prophet. The prophet's servant panicked. Elisha said to his servant, "the forces that are with us are more than the forces that are with them." Then Elisha prayed that God would open his servant's eyes so that he could see God's vast heavenly host ready to fight the battle on Israel's behalf.

In Ephesians 6:14-18, Paul by revelation gave the church specifics about the invisible spiritual battle and the weapons of our spiritual warfare. What does it mean to have your loins girt about with truth?  This is a reference to the "belt of truth." In preparation for battle, a Roman soldier would take the four corners of his tunic and tuck them into his belt so that he could run to the battle lines. This was called "girding up your loins." The belt held the sheath for the soldier's dagger. This belt also kept the breastplate tight and held the shield in position so that the soldiers on the front lines could "lock shields" in a defensive position. The belt was like a tool belt that held the soldier's weapons of warfare.

The main tactic of the battle plan is "Know your enemy." Our first offense in the spiritual battle is the Word of God. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Worldly weapons are considered "common sense." However, the very next verse says spiritual weapons are uncommon: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The battle is not against people or worldly circumstances and situations. The battle is truly spiritual. To those who walk according to the spirit and not according to the flesh, everything is spiritual. The battle is to uphold the truth of the Word of God for the glory of God. The Word of God is truth and our Lord Jesus Christ is the meaning of “the Word”, for he said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the Father except by me." 

The battle lines have been drawn in our culture, our nation, our churches and our worldly institutions. The weapons of the world are deception, deceit, strife, contention, doubt, fear, temptation, and compromise. For each of the devil's schemes there is a spiritual tool from the belt of truth of the Word of God to counter them. 

In the midst of the spiritual battle, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Your brother in Christ, Michael

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

A Spiritual Battle – Part 1


Adirondack Stream Print Adirondack Autumn Yellow Blue | Etsy

Ephesians 6:10-14 “My brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore.”

This week Michael writes: We need our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. It's easy to become casual about important things we've read in the Word of God. When we meet with our Christian brothers and sisters, we're often reproved by the Holy Spirit when we don't apply the Word of Holy Scripture that we read. The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is one such passage about our spiritual battle. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. For the Christian, it is not a matter of “if”, but of “when”.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

We don't need to volunteer to find ourselves in the midst of a spiritual battle either. The adversary (Satan) has taken the battle to us. The devil's ploy is to take men and women of God off the spiritual battlefield. He works in the cover of darkness and tempts our flesh desires. When we fail to see with Christ's eyes behind our eyes ... without spiritual perception and awareness of walking in the Spirit, the devil distracts us to focus on the “wrong” thing. He diverts our attention with deceptive illusions and sinfully shiny objects ... the things of the world that take our minds off the things of the spirit. His deception will cause us to sin and fall into his snare of death when lose our focus on our Lord Jesus Christ. 

There's a video clip from a PBS production called "The Ghost Battle." In World War 2, there were decoys set up to deceive Hitler's army. While the Germans saw tanks and heard war sounds, these were actually props to deceive the enemy and to distract Hitler's forces from the actual allied army. Likewise, the world is surrounded by a demonic spiritual battle. Prayer and the Word of God are two of our offensive weapons in spiritual warfare.  Ephesians 6 contains our defensive and offensive arsenal in the spiritual warfare.

Ephesians 6:14-18 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Let's continue Michael's message on Spiritual Battles in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Furtherance of the Gospel


Philippians 1:12 “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”

A commentary on this Bible verse states that the infrequently used word “furtherance” (meaning simply “advancement”) occurs elsewhere only in Philippians 1:25, where Paul speaks of the “furtherance and joy of faith,” which he hoped to see in the Christians at Philippi, and in 1 Timothy 4:15, where it is translated “profiting.” There, Paul urged young Timothy to continue studying the things of God “that thy profiting may appear to all.”

Paul wrote this epistle while he was unjustly imprisoned in a Roman jail, and no doubt he remembered the time when he had first met many of his Philippian Christian friends as a result of being imprisoned and beaten in a Philippian jail (Acts 16:12-40). In fact, he had often been imprisoned (2 Corinthians 11:23) and had suffered severely in many other ways for “the furtherance of the gospel.”

Indeed, during the two years or more he was a prisoner in Rome, he not only taught God’s Word to many who visited him there (Acts 28:30-31) but also wrote at least four of his inspired epistles there (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon—possibly even Hebrews). And these have been of untold blessing to millions down through the years. In God’s way, these things that had happened to the Apostle had “turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”

The apostle Paul had the spiritual insight to realize that what seemed like great problems and difficulties could be used by God to the “advancement” of the gospel. Rather than complaining or even quitting when the Christian life gets hard, we must remember that God can make even “the wrath of man” to bring praise to Him (Psalm 76:10).

Monday, November 25, 2019

Sorrow into Joy – Part 3


John 16:19-24 “Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them,
“Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Continuing Pastor Kyle’s important message, he tells us that thirdly, the Holy Spirit turns our sorrows into joy by helping us glorify God in the midst of it. The word glorify is defined as “to praise; to magnify and honor in worship; to ascribe honor to, in thought or words; to make glorious. God is glorified, when such his excellency, above all things, is with due admiration acknowledged.” It is 100% supernatural to praise God when you are in the middle of a deep sorrow in life. All-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God , who created time, space, matter and life, is outside of time seeing the end from the beginning, so nothing surprises Him; He knows that they are going to happen. Jesus has overcome the world, so all of our sorrows are “past tense” to Him. Because Jesus has overcome the world, we can have peace in Him and we are called to be overcomers. Because Jesus overcame, we shall overcome. But, this doesn’t just happen. We have to train ourselves to trust the Lord in the midst of life’s sorrows and for the future sorrows of life.

Psalm 86:9 “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.”

Lifting our hands in sweet surrender and praise to God Almighty is not an act that we especially do not feel like doing when we are going through sorrows in life. The easiest thing to do is to turn inwardly and pursue temporary pleasures of distractions in other people, places or things. But, God says to crack open your Bible, get to church, get to your small group Bible Study group, and pray with a sacrifice of praise no matter how heavy the weight feels above and around you. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” God helps us deal with sorrows.

Psalm 28:8 “The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed.”

The church is the safe environment where we learn to know God more, praise and worship God, our heavenly Father, giving Him the glory in your life. Open questioning to learn truth, forgiveness, encouraging each other, looking to the greater godly good of the community and the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and improving through we make mistakes and stumble along the path. If we do not do it inside the church, how are we ever going to do it out in the world? It is said that the purpose of the church is to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted”. God will push you out of your “comfort zone” and put you into His “comfort zone”. Revelation 21:4 tells us, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Then you can say, as it is written in James 1:2-5, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” But, we are also out there in the world with our own reactions, dealing with ourselves and handling your own sorrows in life. Know that your Lord God is in control and handling life’s situations. Then, we can say as in 1 Chronicles 16:8 “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!” Through the Lord, we can operate out in the world.

Nehemiah 8:10 “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

God designed us to be relationship with Him and the people that He put around us. Interpersonal relationships can get heated at times with our different God-given personalities, likes and tendencies, so we learn to walk in the Spirit during those moments and are able to say as in Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” But, know that at times, something is going to come out of left field and down the pike that you never saw coming and the core of who you are is going to get tested in life. Employment uncertainty, health issues, family crisis and life-changing accidents will shake any person and drive them to their knees. If we, by faith, keep our eye on the Lord and cling to His loving promises, we may find the strength to pray Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” 

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Sometimes, we get to the point that we do not know I we can do this because it feels really heavy. How can we put our hands in the air to the Lord when we are falling apart? We take a deep breath and pray Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” It’s when anxiety and depression kicks in with ferocity and you feel like you are in a dark, heavy cloud and you don’t know how you are going to get out of it. Then, God tells you, “I know that this feels heavy, but” in the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” 

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

You are saying, “God, I wasn’t ready. I needed more time. This wasn’t fair.” And you remind yourself of Job 1:21, where it says, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Sorrows don’t just turn themselves into joys. You don’t just show up out of nowhere praising God in the midst of horrible situations; it doesn’t make sense. You start small and you do it every single day. You implement every day that which you learn from the Word of God and you are training your mind and your heart to respond to situations the way that Jesus would have you to do it. And when the load gets heavier, Jesus makes the load lighter. For the Christian, God says that if you lift up your hands, He will lift you up and take the weight. When you lift up the name of the Lord, the Lord will lift your heart and your joy back to Him. Jesus came to turn our sorrows back to joy. That by dying on the Cross and rising from the grave, anyone who would believe in him would have the hope of eternal life and have the promise that even though our sorrow lasts for a little while, that with Him we can have our sorrows turned to joy. 

Human sorrow in the hands of the Lord turns to joy and human sorrow in the hands of the Lord gives birth to Divine strength. So, that thing that seems so heavy right now; that makes you feel that you can’t get your hands up to praise God, I want to encourage you Christian to get your hands up and watch God take the weight off your soul and your heart, with a spirit of joy, a spirit of power and a sound mind with self-control. Lord, help us to love you back.

In Christ, Brian  

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Sorrow into Joy – Part 2


Jigen tumblr — bluepueblo: Autumn River, Ontonagon, Michigan ...

John 16:7-18 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

Continuing Pastor Kyle’s message, he states that the difference between a Christian’s hardships and a non-Believer’s hardships is that the Christian has the tools to deal with the harshness and sorrows of this world that unbelievers do not have. How does God help us to find that supernatural joy in spite of the trials we go through?  The good news about sorrow for the Christian Believer is that we’re never alone in the bad news. God gives us the greatest coping mechanism ever, the Holy Spirit. Imagine if you could schedule in in-person appointment with God. God has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit and through the reconciliation of all Believers, He is in us, working here in our midst, though we cannot see Him with our eyes. We are blessed. By faith, we know He is here, and He working in every one of us through the Holy Spirit. It is our advantage that Jesus ascended to heaven, because with the Holy Spirit there is no appointment necessary. All it takes is to bow your head and heart or speak to God any time and any place about our sorrows and He is there.   

God, the Holy Spirit waits to be invited into our situation. God want to help us, but many times waits for us to seek Him before He moves. Ultimately, whether we experience joy or misery depends on whether we feed ourselves the things of God, His Holy Word, of Christ of the Holy Spirit or something else. Our soul needs God, His Word, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without the things of God, our sorrows with not turn into joy. Invite Him to minister to you. Our soul and spirit need open communication with the Lord.  

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

Pastor Kyle gives a few keys to understanding how the Holy Spirit turns our sorrows into joy. Firstly, by convicting us of our sin. Sometimes, sorrows in life are self-inflicted. God loves us to not allow us to remain in a negative pattern that brings sorrow upon ourselves. Most likely, our current hardships and sorrows are not a punishment for past sins. Past sins can add to our current sorrows and I am not saying that there is zero connection. God works towards His children’s (those who believe and accepted Christ and have a “born again” conversion and regeneration of the spirit) repentance of sin, that we live and walk in righteousness, to restore us to an upright position before Him. This side of eternity, Christian still have the sin nature of the flesh and sins do affect their live negatively by the natural consequences of reaping what they sow. Also, our current sins are not an excuse for future sin. God wants our faithfulness at all times and in all seasons of life. We cannot give ourselves a pass to seek self-fulfillment outside of God’s holy Will, Word and Way to get us through sorrows. We cannot ignore the voice of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the One who turns our sorrow into joy. 

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Secondly, the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth) turns our sorrows into joy by guiding us into the truth; specifically, the truth about Jesus. The Spirit does not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears (from the Lord) He will speak. The Spirit doesn’t bring up past sins where your failed and fell. If past sins and shortcomings; hearing how you are a terrible person and you haven’t done enough for the Lord and His church are brought to remembrance then it is not the Holy Spirit; it is the adversary – the devil. The Spirit doesn’t beat you up, but picks you up, tells you that you are loved by God, encourages you to get back on track of the straight and narrow path with our walk with God, while guiding you away from distractions and out of the fog of sorrow. We all need a Guide in life because none of us know where we are going, but God knows where He wants us to go. God can see what you and I cannot see. When we do not invite the Holy Spirit into our sorrows, we remain in the fog. Some people remain in the fog for years. Let the Spirit slowly guide you out of the fog, into the truth God’s Word and into the light of Christ and true joy.   

Let's conclude Pastor Kyle's message  on turning sorrow into joy in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Sorrow into Joy – Part 1

This is why we have to protect out planet! #ufdelegation #FRAS2014 

John 16:1-6 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”

A couple weeks ago, Pastor Kyle preached on Sunday that the place in our lives that feels dead, lifeless, hopeless and that nothing good is happening there, God tells us that our sorrows through the Lord Jesus Christ will turn into joy. Have you ever been in your life when sorrow so completely filled your heart that it felt there was nothing else left inside? 

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

There is bad and good news about sorrow for the Believer in Jesus Christ. The bad news is that God said that troubles, trials and tribulations will happen, and every person (believer and unbeliever) will go through it this side of eternity. Some things will happen which are so hard to deal with to us that we very well may be tempted to stumble, fall away and abandon our faith; walking away from God. Jesus would not be warning His disciples and us that bad things would be coming our way, unless they were coming and would them us to walk away. We cannot “beware” until we first “be aware”. We cannot be ignorant of the reality of life’s bad news in a sinful fallen world, but serves to set up life’s good news that turns sorrow into joy. John proclaims in John 16:33“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus is saying, do not be surprised when they happen; remember that I told you that they would come.

There may be seasons where everything seems to “go south” on us, and sorrows in life may cause us to question God and His goodness, tempting us to abandon God temporarily, but God never abandons us. If someone moves in our relationship to the Lord, it isn’t God. God stays close to us. Sorrows in life (why do bad things happen?) is one of the main reasons why some never choose to believe in or accept their Maker, Almighty God. Every person will go through sorrows, and there will be future sorrows; a continuous force tempting to keep us away from the things of God. Do not give up on God, your faith, your church and your godly goals because there is sorrow in your life today. Sorrow is a constant reality of life this side of Heaven. We all go through it. 

Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

There is always something suffering and chaotic in this fallen world, but always somethings new that God is bringing to life with love and peace. Not if sorrows happen, but when they happen, Jesus told us they would. Jesus continues to tell us so. The Christian church frequently talks about the promises of God in the Bible, but can unintentionally convey the notion that life is perpetually getting better and improving all the time for Christians. In reality, on this side of glory, life can become really, really hard or earth-shatteringly painful sometimes. It is unbiblical and an unrealistic expectation to think that Christians are exempt from trials and tribulations walking through this life because we have God in our lives. This world is neither the Garden of Eden or Heaven. 

Philippians 3:20 tells us, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. Bad things happen and sorrows are a constant in the lives of Believers. We do not move on from that reality completely, but we learn to move forward. There is a supernatural protection and providence of God over His people. There are times in our lives that we all have seen God’s hand moving, but there are many bad sorrowful things that God did not allow to reach us that we never see also. But, the Bible doesn’t offer a guarantee of exemption from sorrow. 

As obedient children of God, we do not know the over-arching plan of our heavenly Father and see how He is supernaturally working everything together for ultimate good, but we trust that God is in control and doing just that. Jesus never said that we would never have troubles and sorrow, but that if we would trust Him, He would take our sorrows and turn them into joy; and we can have peace in Him. Thank God that Heaven is our true home. We are just passing through, but have been put here by God for a purpose while we are here.

Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s message on “turning sorrow into joy” in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Friday, November 22, 2019

Godly Deliverance

Autumn colours at Iserables above the Rhone Valley.


Psalm 34:17-22 “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

The ultimate contrast is comparison between the redemption of the righteous and the “slaying” and the “desolation” of the wicked. Per 2 Peter 3:10, one day this world and all that is in it will be burned up. The Lord of the universe will build a “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). Revelation 21:2-3 tells us that the One who saved us will dwell with us and be with us, ruling from a new Jerusalem in which no thing or being will enter that “defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie” (Revelation 21:27).

Per Isaiah 11:9, all that is evil and all who are evil will be purged from this new world, and all that hurts and destroys will be removed from the very memory of those who are part of the redeemed. We who own Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, as our Savior and Lord now will rest in the “peace that passes all understanding”.

In that “real world” of eternity prepared by our Lord Jesus, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Godly Resistance


Psalm 34:16 “The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”

This is another clear, basic, often-repeated message of Scripture. Why is it that many of God’s people try to get around this fact? God does not tolerate evil. He does not approve or overlook the deeds of wickedness. Although God demonstrated His incomprehensible and gracious love for us, per Psalm 5:4-5, “while we were yet sinners”, He is “not a God that has pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with you. The foolish shall not stand in your sight: you hate all workers of iniquity”.

We are never to think that God’s love for the world extends beyond His provision through Jesus Christ on the cross. Those who respond to His love are “created in righteousness and true holiness”. In John 8:24, Jesus said that those who do not accept His atonement and do not believe His Word “shall die in your sins”.

This is why the New Testament makes such a strong case for the change in the life of the believer. We are new creations and are now a “new man”. We are set free from sin and free from sin’s law in our body. Indeed, we are set at liberty not only from the control of sin in our lives, but set free to perform the righteous works that God has decreed that we should do. If we are God’s “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession”, we will live like it.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”



Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Godly Pursuit


Colorado Fall; photo by Jeff Jessing. Southwest Colorado in the mountains near Durango, Silverton, Ouray and Telluride offer some of the best fall colors in dramatic landscapes in North America. ,

Psalm 34:11-15 “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

This is a marvelous list of righteous behavior traits. King David is known as a man who had a heart for God. It is passages like these words in song that reveal his love for his Creator.

If we want to enjoy the blessings of our Lord, if we desire His fellowship and His hand on our efforts, if we are to maintain confidence in our relationship with the One in whom is “no darkness at all”, then we must “walk in the light, as he is in the light” (1 John 1:7).

This is such a simple concept, yet it is at the root of much of the conflict in the Christian life. So many today appear to desire the approval of the world’s philosophy or its adherents, attempting to compromise the clear messages of the Word of God with the views and lifestyles of the wicked.

Note the action terms: “desire” life; “love” your time as a child of the King; “keep” your tongue from evil talk; “depart” from evil behavior; “do good: seek peace, and pursue it.” Simple enough to understand, but far more difficult to execute consistently.

Psalm 34:11-15 “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Godly Seeking


Steven's Pass, Washington State

Psalm 34:4-6 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”

Seeking the Lord is a familiar theme throughout the prayers and songs of the Psalms, and the phrase “seek the LORD” appears 26 times in the Old Testament. Always, with no exceptions, both the term and the phrase imply an intense focus, a singular purpose to find the Lord.

Deuteronomy 4:29 “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Please note the other action terms: the one who seeks also “looked” and “cried” while seeking. Both of the additional concepts imply a conscious awareness of the biblical reason for our prayer.

Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 119:9-10 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!”

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

If we are to find the Lord, we must seek Him with the intensity and singularity of purpose represented in these passages.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Godly Boasting


Fall colors at Sneffels-Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado  (by Ron Niebrugge on Flickr)

Psalm 34:1-3 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

In searching the worldwide Web, I came across a small devotional study on “Godly” issues. The first lesson was on godly boasting and stated that Psalm 34:1-3 is an open praise. Israel’s King David is “bragging” about God to anybody who will listen. The boast that his soul is making is broadcast so that everyone will know of his joy. The Hebrew word translated “boast” in this passage is “halal”, from which the word “hallelujah” is developed. Halal is most often used to convey the idea of excitement or delight.

2 Corinthians 10:17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Our boast is designed to magnify and exalt the Lord so that we can “halal” together. “Magnify” (the Hebrew word “gadal”) is an imperative verb giving an authoritative command that demands us to “make great” or elevate to “great importance” the memory of the Lord. With similar emphasis, “exalt” (the Hebrew word “ruwm”) demands that we “raise up” the name of the Lord above everything else. Isaiah 25:1 says, “I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth”.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”

Our church environment often connects the idea of praise with musical episodes during our worship or moments of celebration. Although these may contain elements of magnification or exaltation, they are not the focus of King David’s request in Psalm 34:1-3. It's praise from the soul.

Psalm 44:8 “In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.” 

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Message of the Cross – Part 2

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Michael continues that we have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus. The devil weaves a web to trap those who have come to Christ. However, the Scripture says, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.

There's a book called "Classic Sermons on the Cross of Christ." by George H Morrison,  who was pastor of Wellington Church in Glasgow, Scotland UK wrote a message on Galatians 5:11. Paul prayed that the Galatians might be brought into the fold even though they had fallen into the bondage and rituals of the Old Testament Law. The cross of Christ was offensive to the Jews because they thought that their messiah would come as the conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They didn't expect a suffering servant:  Jesus, the Christ and Him crucified. Written across the cross is the word "sacrifice."

The cross swept away much that the Jews took pride in. They were centered on their own rituals and on their own self righteousness. The cross of Christ says, "in my flesh dwells no good thing." The law of sin and death says I can never give enough, serve enough, love enough or do enough. As Jesus said, "there is none good, no not one." 

Pastor Arthur Blessitt came to speak at a revival at his conservative Southern Baptist church in Birmingham.  In the late 60's Arthur Blessitt was known as the minister of the Sunset Strip. He attracted hippies and other people whom the proper Southern Baptists of Birmingham considered "undesirables." Arthur had the audacity to lead the Birmingham hippies in a cheer to Jesus inside the sanctuary at a conservative church.  The regular congregation and the deacons were appalled. They reprimanded him for "desecrating the sanctuary" and commanded him not to lead another cheer for Jesus in their church. At the next service, Blessitt said, "I apologize for offending some of you."  Then he led the hippies outside to the steps of the church and led them in another cheer for Jesus. This incident was the last time they ever experienced the movement of the Holy Spirit in that church.

The Jews had inherited the promises of God. They were not awed by the pagan cultures of their day. They knew that they were God's chosen people and that they were given the oracles of God. They knew that they were holy and set apart from the Gentiles. However, when Christ came, he came to set the captives free. For after the day of Pentecost, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.

The apostle Paul said, “We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.”  The crossroads of history leads to the cross of Christ. At the cross, Jesus Christ who knew no sin was made the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. At the cross of Christ, we die to self in order to live for Him. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me.  Therefore, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation unto the Jew first and also to the gentile.

We who have been saved by grace have been bought with the price Jesus paid on our behalf. We are His purchased possession. A man of God is God's man, absolutely. A woman of God is God's woman, absolutely.  It's not who we are but rather whose we are. We are a new creation in Christ and the dwelling place, the temple of God's Holy Spirit.

As His holy of Holies, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Message of the Cross – Part 1



This week, Michael writes: It's one thing to intellectually assent to the doctrines of Christ but it's another thing altogether to live the life to which He called us. As a living epistle for Christ, disciples understand that they are God's workmanship, God's magnum opus, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works which God had foreordained for them to walk. In fulfilling God's call, they teach us how to "tune our hearts to sing thy praise." A man or woman of God is a true Christian. To confess Jesus is Lord, means that Jesus is their lord or owner.  A man of God is God's man. A woman of God is God's woman. Grammatically speaking, the phrase "man or woman of God" is the "genitive of possession." Christianity is not who we are, but whose we are.

According to Ephesians 21-3, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now working in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

The gospel message is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that All have sinned and come short of the glory of GodThe wages of sin is death.  However, where sin abounded grace did much more abound.  According to Romans 5:8, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Without the gospel of grace, false religions attempt to perfect the sinful flesh. The Pharisees thought that they would get into heaven by their own good works. However, to come to repentance we must first acknowledge that "in my flesh dwells no good thing." Repentance is to turn from self and unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continuing in Ephesians 2:4-7But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;). And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Our salvation is to the glory of God. It's not about us, it's about Him. God chose us before the foundations of the world according to Ephesians 1 for one purpose: that we might be to the praise of the glory of His grace. Similarly God called his prophet Jeremiah.  According to Jeremiah 1:4-8, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatsoever I command thee you shall speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.”

The Lord is our strength and our salvation.  In whom shall we be afraid?  The arm of flesh shall fail you...ye dare not trust your own.  He is our sufficiency unto all things..he is our all in all.  Therefore, be not afraid of their faces.  When we don't know how to answer, God will put the words in our mouths. 

When God looks at His children, He see's what He's made us in Christ. We were formerly dead in trespasses and sins. However, Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Let's continue Michael's message in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

Friday, November 15, 2019

Do All Things Work Together for Good? – Part 2


Michael continues, There is no fear in love for perfect love casts out fear for fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. This is the moral of the story of the servants, the talents and the master. The Master had given his three servants a number of talents to steward and gain a profit for when he would return at a later date. The two servants to whom the master had given 5 talents and 2 talents respectively, both doubled their talents. When the master returned he said to each of these: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make you faithful over many things.  Enter now into the joy of your Lord." However, the servant to whom the master gave one talent, was afraid and buried his master's talent. This wicked and slothful servant viewed his Master as a harsh, demanding, and unloving taskmaster. On the other hand, a faithful and just servant serves his master with joy from a heart of love. The unfaithful servant said to his Master, “And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.” God never honors fear but He always honors faith.

Because of the cross, we have the assurance of the resurrection. As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” According to Sam Parson's song, "The Best Is Yet to Come" as it says in Romans 8:18, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:29 says, "those He foreknow He also did predestination to be conformed to the image of his Son." The purpose is that Jesus Christ would be the firstborn among many brethren. Because Jesus Christ died on our behalf, we are sons and daughters of God, born again of God's Holy Spirit, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the Word of God which lives and abides forever. 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

What does it mean to be a "person of God?"  A person of God answers "absolutely" to three questions. The third question is "do you want to spend the rest of your life learning to become just like Jesus?"  A person of God answers, "Absolutely, that we would be conformed to the image of His dear son."

In a late-breaking news story, Dallas police officer Amber Guyger was recently convicted of murder. According to her testimony she had returned home from a long shift. She went to what she thought was her own apartment, but it was the wrong apartment. The door had been left ajar and in the dim light she saw a black man sitting on her couch watching TV eating ice cream. She panicked, mistakenly thinking he was there to burglarize her home. She feared for her life and as she fired two shots she thought, "I'm justified because I'm acting in self defense." The man's brother said to her after her trial and conviction, "I forgive you and I love you. If you ask God, He will forgive you too. Can I give you a hug?" They embraced in the middle of the courtroom. He and his murdered brother were both Christians. The Judge in her private chambers afterwards gave her a bible and a hug and said, "read John 3:16."

Learning to become like our Lord is learning to forgive. There is plenty of injustice in this world. Part of repentance is learning that God works all things together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. King David's repented after he had sinned with Bathsheba and had Uriah her husband murdered. His model prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm 51:1-12 “ Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

Despite the tribulation of this fallen world and the sinful nature that we inherited from Adam, we who have confessed that Jesus is Lord and have believed that God has raised him from the dead, have been saved by His grace. God who is rich in mercy and grace works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to his purpose...  As sons and daughters of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, we're called to shine as lights in this world of darkness.

And in so doing, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael